Appraisals by Stephen M Scanlan's appraisal checklist


	By law, the borrower is are entitled to obtain a copy of the final appraisal report from the lender. Just give us a call at 603-660-6110 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To speed up the appraisal process, it's beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

A survey or plot map of the property and building (if readily available).
Any records on the purchase of the property for the last three years.
Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.
List of personal property to be sold with the home.
Title policy that describes encroachments or easements.
Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.
Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and your well.
A list of any major home improvements and enhancements, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
Locate copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, if the sale is "pending", the purchase agreement.
Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.
A list of "suggested" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but generally you'll want to be present to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are some other tips:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very thorough in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and are no strangers to clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a higher home value.
Maintenance: We often suggest repairing minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.
FHA and VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower applying for either an FHA or VA loan, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are extra things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: installing handrails on all stairways, ensuring there are electrical receptacles in every room and that each receptacle functions, fixing leaky or dripping faucets, replacing broken glass.